Aging Matters:
Evacuations
Residential facilities for elders in South Metro Fire Rescue’s jurisdiction are built
to different standards and carry different names depending on the perspective of the
regulatory agency. Most of these facilities have residents who may have permanent or
temporary functional needs that hinder their ability to react quickly and safely in
emergencies. Additionally, facility staff may be unable to assist all residents especially
in emergency situations. The Shepherd Program addresses these challenges by
empowering residents with opportunities to learn how to assist themselves and one
another to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from emergencies. Ultimately, this
program will engage audience members in their communities by giving them new
purpose and meaning.
Evacuations, both partial and full, may be necessary in each of these facilities.
Combinations of residents’ functional needs and inadequate facility staffing present
challenges to occupant and firefighter safety. This program will empower Shepherds to
improve their own safety and assist their neighbors before, during and after evacuations.
Target Audience: Elders
Time: 30-40 minutes
Goals
Students will be able to:
 Identify the two nearest exits from their apartment, dining hall and other common
areas.
 Identify obstacles that often block exit routes and exit discharges.
 Explain why it’s important to react quickly to initial cues to threats.
 Encourage and lead neighbors to the assembly point during evacuations.
 Perform accountability duties at the assembly point.
 Identify neighbors who need assistance from emergency responders.
 Explain how to contribute to after action reviews.
Vocabulary
Community (instead of facility)
Elders (instead of the elderly, senior citizens, etc.)
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A person with disabilities (instead of a disabled person)
Materials
Pre-Drawn Flipchart with Words, Images
Vests?
Flashlights
Outline
I.
II.
Review the idea of inter-dependent living and the role of Shepherds.
a. Based on Safety Wardens, CERT, Neighborhood Watch
b. During most emergencies, citizens are on their own initially
c. Explain buy-in from facility staff
Review facility policy on evacuations. Even if a building is engineered for
sheltering-in-place, a full evacuation may be warranted at some point and
residents must know what to do and where to go.
a. Identify (possibly even go to) the closest exit
b. Note obstacles in the exit way (both inside and outside)
c. Discuss how obstacles can impact an evacuation
d. Discuss solutions based on mutual responsibility, interdependence
e. Identify the assembly point
III.
Explain how humans react to emergencies
a. Recognize
b. Validate
c. Define
d. Evaluate
e. Commit
f. Reassess
IV.
Explain Mind Blindness
a. Life-threatening situations cause our bodies to limit the amount of
information we have to deal with
b. Such situations cause a state of arousal
i. Extreme visual clarity
ii. Tunnel vision
iii. Diminished sound
iv. Slowing sense of time
c. Explain Good Arousal
i. 115-145 beats per minute
ii. Person remains functional
iii. Practiced skills come “naturally”
d. Explain Bad Arousal
i. 145+ beats/minute
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1. Fine and Complex motor skills break down
ii. 175+ beats/minute
1. Cognitive processing breaks down
2. Vision restricts further
3. Inappropriately aggressive behavior
4. Blood shunts to core – hardens muscles into armor =
clumsy
e. Explain that practicing how to respond to emergencies and practicing
skills we’ll need can help us stay in the good arousal condition.
V.
VI.
Explain how Shepherds should react to a fire alarm activation
a. (Put on vest, grab flashlight)
b. Check door for heat, hallway for smoke
c. If either is blocked, go to phone and call 911
d. If safe, start moving toward exit, knocking on doors and listening for
occupants
e. Lead neighbors to the nearest exit
f. Coach them on stairwell rules
i. Two lanes down (right lane = slow lane)
ii. Limited mobility equipment (walkers bad, canes ok)
iii. Staging in landing areas after traffic has passed
g. Lead neighbors to assembly point
h. Account for neighbors and share with staff or emergency responders
i. Watch for medical emergencies
i. Verbal complaints
ii. Difficulty breathing
iii. Fainting, dizzy
iv. Loss of consciousness
Encourage staff to host an after action review, or do your own.
a. Review the situation
b. Identify what went right
c. Identify what went wrong
d. Set goals for the next emergency or practice
e. Send your notes to South Metro Fire Rescue
Life Safety Educator: CORRP South
9195 E. Mineral Avenue
Centennial, CO 80112
720-989-2073 (fax)
lifesafetyeducation@southmetro.org
Conclusion
Thank students for their time and willingness to help their neighborhood.
Ask for questions
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